The Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP) says the federal government and the All Progressives Congress (APC)
intend to obtain an interim court order to declare the Senate President seat
vacant.

Following the defection of Bukola
Saraki from APC to PDP, the ruling party had called on him to step down as
leader of the upper legislative chamber.

In a statement, Kola
Ologbondiyan, PDP national publicity secretary, said the party has credible
information that “some cabals in the presidency and APC had perfected a plan to
institute a lawsuit to challenge the validity of Saraki’s seat with the sole
aim of securing a fraudulent injunction to force him out of office pending the
determination of the substantive suit”.

“While we trust that the Chief
Justice of Nigeria will protect the sanctity of our judiciary especially at
this trying time in our national history, we call on the institution of the
judiciary at all levels to immune itself from being used by enemies of our
democracy as no house falls leaving its roof standing,” the statement read.

“This desperation by despotic
forces to forcefully and illegally take control of the senate, the highest
symbol of our democratic order, is nothing short of civilianised coup which
must be resisted by all.

“The judiciary must therefore
ensure that it is not intimidated or ensnared to be party to a desperate bid to
destabilise our nation.”

Reacting to the allegations, Lai
Mohammed, minister of information, said the PDP resorted to making allegations
without proof because the party has run out of ideas.

“Few days back, the PDP claimed
that there were plans to invade the senate and sack Saraki. Today, they said we
are planning to use the court to sack Saraki. Nigerians are tired of all these
false allegations,” Mohammed said.

“The PDP is reckless and
desperate. They are afraid of their own shadows. They are so troubled and have
gone out of ideas and make allegations without proofs.

“This is a government that
believes in the rule of law. These constant falsehoods are a threat to the
peace and security of this country.”